Means for controlling temperatures



T. LIDBERG.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURES.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 21, 1919.

1,397, 94. Patented N0v. 22,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- I III II i. LIDBERG.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, I919. is 1 94 Nam 22, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T. LIDBERG.

' MEANS-FOR CONTROLLINGTEMPERATURES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1919.

1,397,694, Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

T. LIDBERG.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, m9.

1 ,397 ,694. Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES TIODOLF LIDBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRO-THERMOPHORE A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR CON TROLLING. TEMPERATURES.

1,397,694. Application filed May 21,

'of a heating means from which heat is be ing constantly absorbed and conducted away by a surrounding medium.

One of the prime objects of my invention is to provide means for maintaining constancy of temperature in a selected area, or applicator, and the provision of means for and mode of varying the degree of temperature constantly-to be maintained therein.

My invention is especially applicable for use in bacteriological research work and for orificial surgery, while it may be applied to incubators, or the like.

In the culture of micro-organisms and similar research work, it is extremely desirable to maintain the temperature within an applicator, incubator, or other given area, or zone, substantially constant, within a very small fraction of a degree, and in the treatment of geneto-urinary diseases, and other therapeutic thermal operations, it is highly important that the temperature of the heated applicator, or zone, shall be reliably controllable so that maximum temperature may never rise to a danger point, even for a short period of time.

For destruction of gonococcus, and micrococcus and other micro-organisms the temperature of a heat applicator or sound inserted in the urethra or other orifice to accomplish the result, must be maintained at a relatively high temperature, just below that which would rupture 0r injure the tissue. It, therefore, isa matter of utmost importance to safeguard the patient by a reliable, unfailing means to prevent even -a slight rise of temperature which would be the danger point. The margin of difference of temperature between that which is necessary to destroy the organisms referred to, and that which will dangerously injure the patient is very small and therefore the integrity of the means employed must be beyond question.

In carrying my invention into effect I pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

that the temperature of Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

1919. Serial No. 298,759.

vide a casing, relatively small, as best adapted for the purpose to which reference has heretofore been made, inclosing a test or balancing area to be heated and having heat lnsulating walls so that extraneous drafts and changing temperatures will have no materlal effect upon the temperature within the casing-containing-area to be heated, within the casing. In this chamber, the area to be heated, I place a heating means, such for example as an electric lamp and within the chamber, under the direct influence of the heating properties of the lamp, I locate an automatic electric switch, controlled by a heat responsive thermostat. The thermostat automatically opens and closes an electrlc circuit, by variation of temperature therein, for the electric current that effectuates the heating action and the source of heat within the chamber, and the heat applicator outside of the chamber, but it is affected only by the heat of the chamber. When the applicator is brought into contact with the human body, which is at a lower temperature than that at which the applicator is to be maintained, heat is thus carried away from the applicator and additional heat must be supplied to the applicator in substantially the same ratio as the hea t is thus dispersed therefrom, in order the applicator shall remain constant. c

In the casing, inclosing the test area to be heated, I provide one or more apertures near its bottom, for entrance of relatively cool air and near, or in the top wall of the casing, I provide another aperture for exit of the heated air and I also provide means for regulating the movement of air through the casing. By this means or by varying the current controlling means, a controllable amount of heat may be maintained in the test area, to be heated, and thus this controllable test means is used for determining the temperature of the applicator, or manually uncontrollable means, when the ratio of heat dispersion of the test area to be heated, and the heat of the applicator has been ascertain-ed and established.

When the applicator is inserted in an orifice of the body. or heat is being otherwise dispersed therefrom and electricity is applied to the heating elements therein the heat from the applicator is immediately carried away, to a greater or less extent, depending temperature of the applicator constant, notwithstanding the fact that the heat is being carried away, as by the body of the patient. In some instances, it is required that the heat should be maintained within a fraction of a degree of a dangerous temperature. An increase of temperature beyond that point would injure the tissues of the body,

1 while a decrease oftemperature below said acters'are employed to indicate similar parts.

point mentioned wouldnot produce the results desired. Therefore, it is necessary ,to provide a means for regulating the temperature with great nicet I have found that by providing the secon ary area, Figure 3, or

Fig. 10, and permitting the air in this area to escape in regulable quantities, substantially proportioned as the heat is carried away from the applicator or by varying the heat, that the automatic regulator, consisting of the thermostat, in the secondary area, will maintain the applicator at a substantially constant temperature, irrespective of the heat that is ,carried away by the human body or otherwise. The degree of temperature of the applicator may be accomplished by adjust mg the heat responsive dev1ce to increase the heat of the applicator and of the secondary area, or to decrease it, or by opening and closing the air damper, Fig. 9,"'to shut oil or;

promote the escape of air, so that the radiation from the secondary Sarea' should be somewhat comparable to the radiation of the applicator. J

-I have produced an-apparatus by which my mode of procedure may very effectively be carried into operation, and which is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein Figure 1 is a plan'lview of the instrument, not including the applicator.

Fig.2 is a side elevation of the'casing in which the test area to be heated is located.

Fig. 3 is a central section of the casing showing the contents thereof.

Fig. 4 is a section, taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 6 is a central sectional view of the heat applicator, or sound.

Fi 7 is a large .cross section taken on line 7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the circuit controllingthermostat.

Fi 9 is a valve regulating the draft of air t rough the aperture of the casing.

Fig. 10 is a diagram of circuits. In all the views the same reference char- 15 is the secondary area to be heated, in-

closed by a casing 18 having walls 16, 17 18 and 19, the applicator hereafter described constituting the. primary area to 'be heated.

to permit air to enter the casing and 26 isa' 1 vent, controllable'by the valve; or register 27, to permit a controllable amount: of heated air to escape from the casing andjpermit cold" Shields, or baflie plates 28 are spaced away from the air to enter to take its place.

walls and overlie the apertures for the passage of air to prevent too sudden drafts of air through the 'cas'ing so that the incoming air will be more evenly distributed or more uniformly heated. ,An aperture is madein.

the upper wall of the casing, including. a

thimble 29, in which is inserted a rubber plug, or stopper 30, having a central orifice through which the thermometer 31. is passed and within which it is retained in order to indicate on a graduated scale located onts'ide of the casing, the temperature therein.

YA thermostat 32, sensibly responsive to the heat of the area within the casing, is provided with a vibrating diaphragm 33, bearing an electrical contact 34 adapted to make electrical connection with the contact 35 on the end of the" adjusting screw 36. The screw 36 when turned inwardly toward the diaphragm, modifies the operation of theheat responsive device so that the circuit the effect ofthe warping diaphragm,; and when the screwis turned in'the opposite direction the circuit will be opened at arelatively lower temperature. Therefore, the

temperature automatically maintained with-' that thecircuit is open wit respect to the t me that it is closed to energize the source of heat, by the heat responsive device.

. For the purpose of convenience another compartment 38 is provided, adjacent the c ompartment 15, and this compartment contains the rheostat coil 39 consisting of a number of parallel convolutions of resistance will be opened at a higher temperature, by"

wire, wound spirally upon a cylindrical in sulating support 40. The wire41 extends from end to end. of the cylinder in spaced apart convolutions and is bare at the top surface of the convolutions which are adapted' to be brought into electrical connection with the aiziall movable contact member 42, which is mova le along a rack 43 supported on frame members 44and'45. A pinion 46 is connected to a shaft 47, the outer end ofwhich carries a thumb screw 48. I By this means the contact member 42 may be moved to a selected position on the wire convolutions 41, to -wary the resistance included within the applicator circuit, to be hereafter explained. The bar 49 is provided with a scale which, in cotiperation with the index 50 that, moves with the contact member, to

indicate the amount of resistance introduced into the circuit. The electrical'resistance, afforded by the wire 41 of the rheostat is included in series with the applicator or sound 51.

The sound or applicator 51 consists of a tube 52, having an axially extending compartment 53, within which to insert the heating element 54. The element consists of a coil 55 wound around a tubular insulating support 56. Another similar compartment 57, is provided within which to insert a thermometer 58. The outer end of the applicator tube is bifurcated into two branches, 59, containing a thermometer end 60 for connection of a terminal plug 61 and aflording a handle for the appllcator. The wire 62, of the heating coil, has one end connected to the center terminal 63 and the other end 64, connected with the ring terminal 65 of the plug. The compartment 53 of the applicator contains an insulating lining 66within which the heating coil 54 is retained.

A condenser 67 is connected across the terminals 34 and 35 of the heat-responsive device, and is contained, preferably, in the compartment 38. The object of the condenser is to cut down the destructive effects of thespark between the terminals 34 and 35, as well understood by persons skilled in the art.

A drawer 68 may be contained in the lower art of the structure for the purpose of hol ing appliances or parts of the apparatus when they are not in use, such as the applicator, the connecting cord, etc.

A diagram of circuits is shown in Fig. 10, in which the main wires 70 and 71, connected to a suitable'source of current supply, such as the service wires of an electric circuit, contain the two heating sources 23 and 51 in parallel, as clearly shown. The lamp 23, which heats the area 15, is

included within the casing 18, while the coil 54 of the applicator is not within the casing but is connected to the apparatus by means of the connecting plug 61 and suit able plug receptacle within which it is contained.

The use of the device is substantially as follows When the device is connected to a suitable source ofcurrentsupply, the circuit is closed, through contacts 34 and 35 and the lamp 23 will be lighted and produce more or less heat, which will raise the temperature of the test area 15, within the casing 18. Now when the circuit is first closed, through the lamp 23, it is best to have the valve or register 27 fully overlying the apertures 26 to retain the heat within the casing-18 until the circuit is opened by means of the automatically operating thermostat 32. When the heat within the area 15 has reached a certain temperature, the diaphragm 33, of the thermostat 32, will be warped so that the contact 34 no longer touches the adjustable contact 35 of the screw 36, and'therefore the circuit will thereby be opened and the temperature within the heated area will decrease. The .temperature at which this occurs will depend somewhat upon the adjustment of the screw 36. By screwing it inwardly, it will require a higher temperature to sufficiently warp the diaphragm of the thermostat and by screwing it outwardly, it will require less heat to accomplish the same efi'ect. Now, however, if the valve 27 is opened, to a greater or less extent, then the heated air within the area 15 will escape, or the heat will be dispersed by the outgoing air and the temperature within the casing 18 will fall more rapidly than when the valve 27 isnot so completely closed. As the air escapes through the vent, controlled by the register or valve 27, fresh relatively cold air will enter the apertures 24 near the bottom of the casing 18 and therefore, to maintain a constant or given temperature with-' 1n the area 15, with all of the vents open, there must be an established ratio between the aggregate length of time periods that the circuit will be closed, bythe thermostat, and the amount of air dispersed or conducted away from the area 15, in conjunction with that which is admitted. When the valve 27 is fully opened, then the aggregate periods of time that the circuits will be closed by the diaphragm 33 is greater than when the valve is only partly opened or entirely closed. Therefore, we have a test means for maintaining a given temperature with a constant dispersion, or conducting away, of the heat from that area. Now when the applicator 51 is applied to the human body, the heat will be carried away from it at a definite ratio and inasmuch as the extent or rapidity with which the heat may be carried away from the heated area 15, is controllable, the ratio between the effect produced in the casing 15 and that in the applicator, may be easily established, by the manipulation of the valve 27 and by the adjustment of the rheostatscrew 37, by either or by both. Now as the temperature of the area 15, is controlled by the diaphragm 34 of the thermostat, by varying the periods of time that the lamp 23 will be energized, and inasmuch as the same means controls the heat supplied to the applicator 51, it logically follows that if the dispersion of heat, from the area 15 is maintained in proportion to the dispersion of heat from the applicator 51, then the heat of the respective areas to be heated, will be correspondingly uniform and constant.

' -.When it is desired to increase or decrease the relative heat in the applicator 51, it may be accomplished by changing the effective resistance 41 included in the circuit therewith. This may be done without having any modifying effect upon the results produced in the area 15, by manipulation of the rheostat. j

The apparatus may be used for ascertain-' ing the activity of the bloodstream of indi-' the lamp to the wire 70. Theother branch of the circuit starts at the wire 73, at the the coil 54 of the applicator 51, and through point 74, and continues over the wire 75 to the applicator over the wire 76 to the movable contact 42 of the rheostat 41 and from the coil 41 over the wire 77 to the point 78 of the wire 70. Thus including the lamp 23am]. the coil 54 in parallel circuit, and

a the temperature at which the applicator isincluding the condenser 67 across the terminals 34 and 35 of the thermostat. The thermometer 58, within the applicator 51, projects suiiiciently from the end of the applicator to enable the operator to ascertain heated and the thermometer 31 within the area 15, indicates the temperature therein. I While I have herein shown a single embodiment of my invention, and a means for carrying itinto efiect, it will be manifest,-

to persons skilled in ,the art, that many changes in the arrangement and general configuration of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

' means to heat a chamber within thebasing,

Having described my invention, what I claimis: r v i g '1. A device of the character described having, in' combination a casing; electric an applicator provided with electric heating means connected in circuit relation with the chamber heatin means; a thermo-responsive switch 'in the c amber to automatically control the current supplied to both heating. I

means and means outside'the casing to adjust the switch.

2. A device of the character described having in combination a perforate casing;

electric means to heat .thechamber within the casing; an applicator provided with I electric heating means con'nectedin' circuit,

relation with the chamber heating means; 1

means to control the air passing through the chamber; a thermo-responsive switch within the chamber to automatically control the current supplied to.both heating means and'meansoutslde the casing to adjust the I I 70 3. A device of the character described switch. 7

having in combination a casing; electric means to heat a chamber within thecasing; an applicator provided with .electric heatingv applicator independently of that supplied means; means to vary the current in the to the chamber heating means; a thermoresponsive switch, within the chamber to automatically control the current supplied.

to both heating means and means outside the casing to adjustIthe'switch. I v V 4. An applicator comprising'an elongated tube having two axially extendin chambers, one to recelve a thermometer and a heating coil in the other chamber. Y

5. An applicator comprising an elongatedbifurcated tubular' structure having two V axially extending parallel chambers, one to the other chamber.

6. An applicator comprising 'an elongated receive. a thermometerand a heating coil in '90 tube having two axially extending parallel casings, provlding two independent chambers closed at one end, one casing continuing A in a straight .line for receiving -a thermometer, the other deflected at its open end to provide a handle and deflected tube.

7. An, applicator comprising -an 'elongated' tube. having 'two axially extendi'ng' parallel casings, providingtwo independent chambers closed at oneend, one casing continuing in a straight line for receiving a thermometer,

the other deflected at its open end to provide a handle; a heatin coil in the deflected tube and a terminal p ug closing theopen end of said tube.

" mm wea s? a heating coil in th In testimony. whereof 1 hereunto set myhand. 

